Reversible rail-bender.



.M.-A. BODKiN. nzvsnsme RAIL BENDER.

THE NORRIS PETERS 00.. FHOTD-LITHO.. WASHINGIDN. D. C.

M. A. BODKIN.

REVERSIBLE RAIL BENDER. APPLICATEON mm JUNE 22, 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mi K H 0 O R. 0 A W m/A R THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTQLITHOQ WASHINGTON. D. c.

MORRIS A. BODKIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REVERSIBLE RAIL-IBENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed June 22, 1914. Serial No. 846,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS A. BODKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, Bronx county, in the State of New York, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Rail-Benders, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for bending rails and analogous bodies, and the same has for its object more particularly to provide a simple, eflicient and reliable device which may be readily adapted for bending rails and analogous bodies regardless of the manner or position in which said rails or articles may be secured or placed.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a bending apparatus for rails and other bodies comprising an attaching memher, and a bending mechanism which may be readily secured to said attaching member in a plurality of positions whereby to permit of the bending of the rail or other body to either side of said attaching member.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a bending apparatus for rails and other bodies comprising an attaching member, and a bending member which may be readily attached to or detached from said attaching member, in order to permit of the reversal of said bending member whereby to accomplish the bending of the free end of a rail or other body regardless of its position or method of securement to a suport.

P To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a plan or top view showing one form of rail bender constructed according to, and embodying my said invention; the same being shown applied to a rail; Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof looking in the direction of the arrow at, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an edge view similar to Fig. 2, showing the bending member secured to the attaching member in a reversed position; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the lined- 1 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow Z2, Fig. 5 is an end view looking in the direction of the arrow 0 Fig. 1, and showing 1n dotted lines the bender reversed, in order to permit of the bending of said end in the opposite direction; Fig. 6 is a plan or top view showing a modified form of bending apparatus; Fig. 7 is an edge View thereof looking in the direction of the arrow d Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow.

In said drawings 10 designates the apparatus as a whole comprising a hook member 11 whlch is preferably formed of cast metal, and provided at its forward end with a depending nose or abutment 12, and at its rear end with a similar but smaller nose 13. The inner side of the nose or abutment 12 is transversely rounded at 14c, and intermediate said rounded portion 14:, and the inner side of the nose 13 are provided a plurality of depending ribs 15, 15, 15 The outside ribs 15, 15 being made slightly deeper than the intermediate rib 15 18 denotes the body portion formed by an angular plate or web 19, constituting a lever, provided upon its upper and lower sides along its edges with angle irons 20, 21. Upon the opposite surfaces of the plate or web 19, at each side of the hook member 11, are secured angle plates 16, 16 having their free ends provided with elongated holes or slots 17, 17 to receive a bolt 11 which extends transversely through elongated holes or slots 11*, 11 in the hook member 11, and is secured in place by a cotter pin 11. The bolt holes 16 16 and 17, 17 are slightly elongated to permit of a slight movement of the plate 19 relative to the hook member 11, and to prevent any shearing action on said bolts when the apparatus is in operation. On the opposite sides of the left hand end of said plate 19 (Figs. 1 and 2) are bolted bearing plates 21 21 having their end portions bent outwardly and forwardly to receive a threaded bearing or nut 22 provided with trunnions 23 upon its opposite sides which extend through recesses in the bearing plates 21, and are pivotally supported in cheek plates 21, 21 secured upon the outer sides of said bearing plates 21, 21, and held in place by cotter pins 24:, 24:.

The bearing 22 is provided with a central screw-threaded opening adapted to receive a bending member or screw 25 which is pro vided at its upper end with a head 26 having an opening 26 therein to receive a bar or other instrument whereby to rotate said screw. On the lower end of said screw 25 is arranged a head 27 held in swiveled engagement with said screw 25 by means of a small screw 28 which extends through said head 27, and has its inner end extending through said head and into an annular recess 29 provided in the lower end in the bending member or screw 25. The free end of the head 27 is provided with projecting portions 27, 27 between which said head- 27 is provided with a curved surface 27".

80 denotes a bearing member or nose which issecured to the opposite end of the lever 19 by means of bolts. The lower or forward edge of said nose or. bearing member is recessed and slightly rounded at 30. The angular plate 19 has its angle irons 20, 21 cut away at their adjacent edges to form socket portions toreceive the hook member 11, and to position said angle irons 20, 20 properly upon the plate 19filling str ps 20 20 are inserted between the under-s des of said angle irons 20, 20, and the opposite sur faces of said angular plate 19.

31, 31 denote bolts which extend through the angle plates 16, 16 on the plate or web 19, and'through said plate or web in order to hold said angle plates 16, 16, firmly secured. thereto.

In order. to prevent any shearing act on occurring when the apparatus isin. use, the.

bolt holes 17, 17, which receive the bolts whereby the hook 11 is secured thereto, are elongated transversely ofthe plate 19, in order to permit of a very. slight transverse movement of the hook member 11 relative to the plate 19. The extent of this move.- ment being limited. by the engagement of the rear edge of the plate 19 with the flat inner side of the rear jaw 13.

In the modification illustrated at Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, the apparatus. also comprises an angular plate 40, reinforced alongopposite edges with angle irons 41, 42. At the left hand of said plate. 40 is bolted the. bifurcated end 43 of a bearing member 44 which is provided with a screw-threaded opening to receive a bending member or screw 45 provided at its lower end with a head 46 constructed similar to the head at the lower end of the screw described in the main/construction. At the opposite endof.

said plate 40 is secured a bearing member,

or nose 47 having a curved recessed edge 48 adapted to engage with the head: of a rail. 49 denotes a hook member which is composed of twoparallel bars 49, 49 having their rear portions 49 bent at right angles to the body portions 49, 49 thereof and forming a hook 50. Intermediate the forward end ofthe bars 49', 49%is secured a bearing member 51 having its inner edge rounded and adapted to engage in the side of a rail. The portion of the bearing 51 a bolt 53. 54, 54 denote lugs provided upon the outer side of the bolts 49, 49, provided with holes to receive bolts 55, 55 whichalso pass through registering elongated holes or slots in the plate 40 whereby to secure said hook member to said plate.

In the modified construction, just described, the bearing member 44 is rigid and the screw 43 incapable of any other than a rotary movement relative to said bearing.

The operation of the device is as follows: If 'it is desired to bend a rail having its right hand portion secured to the ties, and its left hand: end portion free, as illustrated at Fig. 1, it merely becomes necessary to engage. the rounded inner side 14 of the jaw 12, with the outer. edge of a rail head, and thence cause the recessed curved portion of the bearing. member 30 to engage the inner edge of said rail head. Hereupon the swivel head 27 of the adjusting screw 25 is caused to engage the inner edge of the rail head and the screw 25, then, rotated. This will cause the 'rail' to be bent outwardly, as indicated in dotted lines at saidfigure. As the screw 25 is rotated the same will be caused gradually to assume the position indicated in dotted lines, and in assuming such position. the bearing 22 will; pivot upon the trunnions 23 supported within theplates21, and thus serve to maintain the recessedv portion of said, head 27 in. contact with the inner T edge of the -rail throughout its entire movement, and to bear. against the same in a direction at right angles tosaid rail. When it'is desired to bend'a rail: or other device whose left hand end, is. secured, and whose right hand end. is free, it merely becomes necessary to remove the bolt 11, whereupon the hook 11 may be detached from the plate 19, and the said plate. 119 thence bodily reversed. and the same caused to assume the position, shown. at Fig. 3. Hereupon the bolt 11 is again inserted in the holes 17, 17 provided in the lugs 16, 1 6, and passed through the registering holes. provided in the plate. 19, and then secured in position thereon. When thus secured, the screw 25 will be located at the right hand of the angular plate or lever 19., and permit. of. said end of the rail being distended or olfset in a direction opposite to that indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 1.

Having. thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.;'-

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising. an attaching member, a support provided upon its opposite sides with means to engage said attaching member; said attaching member being provided at its opposite ends With means adapted to engage with a rail and with one edge of said support, a bearing at one end of said support, and a bending member at the other end of said support, substantially as specified.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising an attaching member having abutments at the opposite ends thereof; one of said abutments being adapted to engage a rail, a support provided upon its opposite sides with means to receive said attaching member, means for securing said attaching member to the receiving means on either side of said support, a bearing member at one end of said support, and a bending member at the other end of said support, substantially as specified.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising an attaching member, a support, bearings arranged upon the opposite sides of said support adapted to receive said attaching member, means for securing said attaching member to the hearings on either side of said support, means arranged at the opposite ends of said attaching member adapted to engage with a rail and one edge of said support, a bearing member at one end of said support, and a bending member at the opposite end of said support, substantially as specified.

4:. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member abutments at the ends thereof; one of said abutments being adapted to engage a rail, a support reversibly secured to said attaching member and adapted to engage with the other of said abutments, a bearing member at one end of said support, and a bending member at the other end of said support, substantially as specified.

5. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising an attaching member abutments at the opposite ends thereof; one of said abutments being adapted to engage a rail, a lever reversibly secured to said attaching member adapted to engage the other of said abutments, a bearing member at one end of said support, and a bending member pivotally mounted at the other end of said lever, substantially as specified.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member angular abutments at the opposite ends thereof; one of said abutments being adapted to engage a rail, a support reversibly secured attaching member and adapted to engage with the other of said abutments, a bearing fixed at one end of said support, and a bending member pivotally mounted at the other end of said support, substantially as specified.

7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member depending, angular abutments at the opposite ends thereof; one of said abutments being adapted to engage with one edge of a rail, a support reversibly secured to said attaching member adapted to engage with the other of said abutments, a bearing fixed at one end of said support adapted to engage with the opposite edge of said rail, and a bending member pivotally mounted at the other end of said support and adapted to engage with the last-named edge of said rail, substantially as specified.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member angular abutments at the opposite ends thereof, one of said abutments being adapted to engage with one edge of a rail, a support reversibly secured to said attaching member and adapted to engage with the abutments at the opposite end of said attaching member, a bearing fixed at one end of said support adapted to engage with the opposite e ge of said rail, a threaded bearing pivotally mounted at the other end of said support, and a bending member working in said threaded bearing and adapted with the last-named edge of said stantially as specified.

9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member, depending angular portions at its opposite ends, one of said depending angular portions being adapted to engage with one edge of a rail, a support reversibly secured to said attaching member and having one of its edges engaging with the depending angular portion at the opposite end of said attaching member, a bearing fixed at one end of said support adapted to engage with the opposite edge of said rail, a bending member pivotally mounted at the opposite end of said support and adapted to engage with the last-named edge of said rail, substantially as specified.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member, depending angular portions at its opposite. ends, a curved bearing on one of said depending portions adapted to engage with one edge of a rail, a lever having one of its edges engaging the other of said depending angular portions, means engaging said lever intermediate of its ends for reversibly securing the same to said attaching member, a bearing fixed at one end of said lever and adapted to engage with the opposite edge of said rail, a bearing at the other end of said lever, and a screw working in said bearing adapted to engage With the last-named edge of said rail, substantially as specified.

11. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member, depending portions at its opposite ends, a curved bearing on one of said depending to engage rail, subportions adapted to engage with one edge of a rail, a lever, means for reversibly securing said lever to said attaching member, a bearing fixed at one end of said lever and adapted to engage with the'opposite edge of said rail, a bearing at the other endofsaid lever, a threaded member pivotally mounted in said bearing, and a screw working in said threaded member adapted to engage with the last-named edge of said rail, substantially as specified.

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an attaching member, depending portions at the opposite ends, of said attaching member, a curved bearing on one of said depending portions adapted to engage with one edge of a rail, a reversible lever adapted to engage at one edge with the other of the depending portion on said attaching member, lugs secured upon opposite sides ofsaid lever and extending outwardly G'opies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

therefrom, a bolt adapted to engage said attaching member and said lugsrt'or securing said lever to said attaching member, a bearing member fixed at one end of said lever having a curved recess adapted to engage with the opposite edge of said rail, a bearing secured to the other end of said lever, a nut pivotally mounted in said bearing, a screw working in said nut, and a bearing member revolubly mounted upon one end of said screw and adapted toengage with the last-named edge of said rail, substantially as specified.

Signed at the'city of New York, in the county and State of New York, this 10th day of June, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.

' MORRIS A. BOD-KIN. Witnesses:

JOHN A. BQDKIN, Josnrrr G. QUINN, Jr.

Washington, D. .0. 

